Wisconsin doesn’t boast the quantity of NFL talent that leads Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State to their annual position as national championship contenders.
One list provides that context. Alabama entered the 2024 NFL season with 77 alumni on active rosters. It was followed by Ohio State (66), LSU (65), Michigan (63), Georgia (62), Notre Dame (52), Penn State (49), Washington (47), Oklahoma (46) and Florida (43).
Wisconsin, meanwhile, sat tied for 22nd with 32 alumni in the league.
Related: Power ranking all 18 Big Ten football programs after the 2024 season
Those counts describe each program’s success at the college level. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that a direct correlation exists between NFL talent and on-field winning.
While Wisconsin is far from national title contention, and far from those listed alumni totals, it does fit into a special category of NFL success: The Badgers are one of just nine programs in college football with at least five program alumni set to play on NFL conference championship Sunday.
Wisconsin, Washington, Ohio State, and Illinois each boast five players, Penn State has six, Florida has seven, Georgia and Alabama have eight, and Oklahoma leads the way with nine.
One translation: While Wisconsin doesn’t produce the same number of NFL products that other programs do, the Badgers that do make it go on to become some of the best at their position.
Former Badgers set to play on Sunday are Tyler Biadasz (Washington Commanders), Michael Deiter (Commanders), Zack Baun (Philadelphia Eagles), David Edwards (Buffalo Bills) and Leo Chenal (Kansas City Chiefs).
Biadasz has been one of the NFL’s most steady centers over the past decade, first with Dallas and now with Washington. Deiter is a well-established backup in the league. Baun was a first-team All-Pro selection after a career-best year. Edwards is off one of the best seasons of his six-year career. Chenal, finally, is one of the more important members of a defense that has led the Chiefs to consecutive Super Bowl titles.
That group doesn’t even include NFL-best pass-rushers T.J. Watt and Andrew Van Ginkel, or running back Jonathan Taylor.
Wisconsin doesn’t often sent quarterbacks, wide receivers or cornerbacks to the next level. Those who have seen the Badgers play over the last two decades may understand why. That said, a football fan would be hard-pressed to find a program with a better collection of players at linebacker, running back and offensive line.
Those five former Badgers leading teams into the conference championship round further proves that reality.
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